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Stanford offense ready for Michigan State defense to 'swing in from vines' with different blitzes

2014 Rose Bowl: Friday Press Conference

Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan has good mobility and a strong arm, but most importantly he doesn't get rattled easily. Hogan knows Michigan State's defense will present challenges, but he's confident the Cardinal can handle it in next Wednesday's Rose Bowl.
(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

LOS ANGELES — Stanford offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren said he can't wait to go against the Michigan State defense and the unique challenges the Spartans present.

"Schematically, you would say on first and second down they are very similar to an Oregon State, they're a 4-3, Cover Four-slash (Cover) Zero because those guys (safeties) are so tight to the line of scrimmage and so active in the run game, but what they do on third down is unique,'' said Bloomgren, who before coming to Stanford in 2011 was the assistant offensive coordinator with the NFL's New York Jets.

"(Third down) they bring different pressures, odd spacing. They go from being to a college 4-3 to an odd 3-4 look. They do some very unique thing on third down. Awesome challenge, I'm excited about going against these guys and going in with our group of guys.''

"Well, first when you look at them on film, they're a very experienced group, and they do what they do very well,'' said Hogan, who ranks third in the explosive Pac-12 in passing efficiency at 154.1 with 20 touchdowns and one interceptions.

"They don't try to get out of their game plan, they're just very solid, very stout and it presents a lot of challenges for offenses,'' he said. "They stick to their true identity. Some defenses might try and get out based on what you're doing (as an offense), but the really good ones, they'll stick to their style and do that through and through.''

Quarterbacks, by their very nature, don't like defenses that throw surprises at them.

But Bloomgren cautions that Michigan State brings a variety of fronts and movements that can confuse an offense, particularly on third down and throwing downs.

"They do an unbelievable job of playing their front, and everybody talks about a seven-man front, this is a nine-man front that looks the same every play on first and second down,'' Bloomgren said. "They do such a great job of making everything look the same. You think you're just going against a vanilla college 4-3 and then, boom, on the snap, you get this cross dog, and this guy coming off the edge.

"One thing I'm not sure (Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi) gets enough credit for is what he does on third down,'' he said. "They put people behind the sticks (long down and distance) on first and second down and then they swing in from vines. It's unbelievable how many different pressures they have.''

Stanford, a college known for its elite academics, prides itself on having student-athletes who can handle such sophistication.

Hogan said he's not going to be fooled or tempted by some of the looks Michigan State gives him.

"I feel like a lot of times that's what they want you to do, they'll try and bait you into throwing balls like that (fade routes) and they have such great coverage skills that they'll go up and make a play on it,'' Hogan said. "But we're not going to try and … we're going to stick to our game plan, our style, run first and take shots when they're there.''

Hogan said Michigan State's experience on defense is what allows the Spartans to disguise their defense so well, but he believes the Cardinal players have the aptitude to adjust accordingly.

"They do a very good job of disguising it and they have several defenses they utilize,'' Hogan said. "With their experience they know where to be when the ball snaps, so they can hold it long and before you know it, they're sending cross dogs (linebacker blitzes), corner traps and you have to be prepared for that, know that every play might look the same but they're going to come at you differently.

"Sometimes we will send in one play and other times we will send in three or four,'' he said. "We will see what the defense is doing and it helps just having guys in our huddle who can process all that information and be there at the line of scrimmage right before the play is snapped and recognize and all of our 11 are on the same page with one of the four plays. It just shows our guys out there are capable of making any of those plays.''